The Maternity team at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust have been named the best in the country by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM).

At a special awards ceremony held in London on Tuesday 6 March, the team were named ‘The Kellogg’s All-Bran Midwifery Service of the year’ in recognition of the care they provide to mums and babies.

They were given their special trophy at the ceremony by Good Morning Britain’s news anchor Charlotte Hawkins.

UHCW were joint winners of the top award, along with NHS Lanarkshire in Scotland.

Staff at UHCW offer a full range of maternity services, including Antenatal clinics, community midwifery and home birthing service, the midwife-led Lucina Birth Centre, a consultant-led Labour Ward, and a Neonatal Unit.

The team was also shortlisted for another award at the ceremony; the Slimming World Award for Best Partnership Working.  This was for their work on the A-EQUIP partnership between the Trust and colleagues in Coventry University, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust to train and develop midwives.

Claire Price, Deputy Head of Midwifery at UHCW NHS Trust said:

“I’m so proud of all the team for winning this award.  It recognises the hard work of all the staff who work in our Maternity service to help women and their families to have the best birth experience possible.”

Gill Walton Chief Executive and General Secretary at the RCM said; “The level of entries for this award category was so high this year and it’s excellent to see maternity services delivering exceptional care and support to women and their families. The midwives and maternity support workers from UHCW should be an inspiration to us all.

“The service that they are delivering is evidence based, innovative and driven by the needs of local women. The team have also demonstrated an excellent ability to engage with national policy and have strong local partnership to engage with and support the community. I congratulate all the team and wish them continued success.”

The judges of the award said of the team that: “The RCM has observed and seen first hand strong midwifery leadership and commitment of the whole maternity team at UHCW. The midwives are determined to provide safe and high quality care and continuously improve services for local women and their families.”